NBA Rumors: Brandon Ingram Trade Doesn't Appear Imminent amid Pelicans Contract Buzz

A Brandon Ingram trade may not happen anytime soon.

On The Lowe Post podcast on Friday, ESPN's Zach Lowe said the New Orleans Pelicans forward might not get the lucrative extension he is seeking and that team also may not be willing to trade him in the near future.

"I haven't really heard much buzz that the Pelicans are psyched about giving him that massive of an extension," Lowe said. "I also haven't heard much buzz, Tim Macmahon, about Brandon Ingram being traded anywhere imminently."

Ingram took a step back during the 2023-24 season, averaging 20.8 points, 5.7 assists and 5.1 rebounds per game as the Pelicans reached the first round of the playoffs. Still, he garnered interest from a handful of teams around the league throughout the summer, namely the Sacramento Kings and San Antonio Spurs.

But the market for Ingram cooled down just a few weeks into the offseason, as The Athletic's Shams Charania reported earlier in July that both the Kings and Spurs pivoted to other trade targets. Charania also noted that Ingram's trade market "is currently limited."

Ingram will be a free agent after this season, and he could walk if he doesn't get a favorable extension. The Pelicans will have to make a tough decision on whether to give Ingram a max deal, as they also have to think about stars like Zion Williamson and the newly acquired Dejounte Murray.

If Ingram can have a big year, he could prove that he's worth a lucrative deal either from New Orleans or another team. A rough showing in the postseason that saw him average 14.3 points on 34.5 percent from the field certainly didn't help his case going into the offseason.